One of the first questions every Kedarnath pilgrim asks is simply: when does the temple open and close? Because Kedarnath sits at 3,583 m in the Himalayas, its doors (kapat) are shut through the harsh winter and open only for a season of roughly six months. Getting the dates right is essential to planning your yatra. Here is a clear guide to the 2026 season, the expected 2027 opening, how the dates are decided, and how they line up with the other Char Dham temples.
For the 2026 season, Kedarnath opened in late April / early May 2026 (the exact kapat date is announced each year on Maha Shivratri) and is scheduled to close around Bhai Dooj, in late October or early November 2026. If you are planning a visit in the current season, the closing date is the key deadline — after it, the deity is moved to Omkareshwar Temple at Ukhimath for the winter, and darshan at Kedarnath itself is not possible until the following year.
The 2027 opening date has not yet been announced — it will be declared on Maha Shivratri (around February/March 2027) by the temple priests. Based on the consistent pattern of recent years, the kapat are very likely to open in late April or early May 2027. We will update this guide once the official 2027 date is confirmed; until then, treat late April/early May as your planning window and book flexible arrangements. (Exact 2027 date: to be confirmed.)
Kedarnath’s opening date is not fixed to a calendar day; it is determined by tradition and the Hindu panchang (almanac). Each year, on the festival of Maha Shivratri, the priests at Ukhimath calculate and announce the auspicious date and time for the kapat to open, usually a few weeks later in spring. The closing date is similarly tied to the festival of Bhai Dooj just after Diwali. This is why the dates shift slightly from year to year.
Kedarnath opens as part of the wider Char Dham season. The four temples open within a few days of each other in spring:
| Dham | Opening (announced on) | Typical window |
|---|---|---|
| Yamunotri | Akshaya Tritiya | Late April / early May |
| Gangotri | Akshaya Tritiya | Late April / early May |
| Kedarnath | Maha Shivratri | Late April / early May |
| Badrinath | Announced separately (Basant Panchami) | Late April / early May |
All four close around Diwali, between late October and mid-November, in a series of ceremonial kapat-closing rituals.
At 3,583 m, Kedarnath is buried under heavy snow through the winter, when temperatures plunge far below freezing and the trail from Gaurikund becomes impassable. For roughly six months the region is effectively cut off, so the temple observes an ancient practice: the deity’s worship is symbolically shifted down to a warmer, accessible location for the winter and resumes at Kedarnath once the snow clears in spring. This is why the yatra is strictly seasonal and why the opening and closing dates matter so much to your planning.
The opening and closing of Kedarnath are marked by a moving ritual. When the temple closes in autumn, the idol of Lord Shiva is carried in a ceremonial doli (palanquin) procession down the valley to Omkareshwar Temple at Ukhimath, where it is worshipped through the winter. In spring, the same procession carries the deity back up to Kedarnath for the reopening. Many pilgrims deliberately time their visit to witness these processions, which are among the most atmospheric moments of the entire Char Dham calendar.
The first days after the kapat open are intensely spiritual but physically demanding. Snow often still lines the trail, nights are bitterly cold, and the crowds are among the heaviest of the year as devotees rush for the first darshan of the season. If you value the special energy of the opening, plan and book months ahead; if you prefer comfort and clear weather, the later shoulder season is far kinder. Either way, the sight of the ancient stone temple against its snow-ringed peaks, freshly reopened for the year, is unforgettable.
Because Kedarnath is open for only part of the year and the beds near the temple are genuinely limited, demand outstrips supply in every peak window. As soon as the season’s dates are announced on Maha Shivratri, hotels near the trailhead, helicopter slots and pony bookings begin to fill. The practical lesson is simple: decide your rough window early, and confirm your arrangements the moment the official dates are set rather than waiting until the last minute, when both availability and prices work firmly against you.
The opening weeks (May) carry a special spiritual charge but also cold nights, snow on the trail and the heaviest crowds. June is the warm, busy peak. July–August is the monsoon, when landslides can disrupt the Kedarnath valley. For most pilgrims, September to mid-October is the sweet spot — clear skies, stable trails and thinner crowds — before the cold of the closing weeks returns. Read our full guide to the best time to visit Kedarnath.
The journey begins at Haridwar or Rishikesh, then a long drive to Guptkashi or Sonprayag, a shared jeep to Gaurikund, and a 16–18 km trek (or pony/helicopter) to the temple. Char Dham registration is mandatory for Kedarnath — complete it online before you arrive to avoid queues; requirements are listed on the official Uttarakhand Tourism portal. Because the temple is only open for part of the year and beds near it are limited, book well ahead once the dates are announced.
May opens cold and clear, with snow still lying on the higher trail. June and early July are the warmest and busiest weeks. From mid-July through August the monsoon takes over, turning the valley green but landslide-prone, with unpredictable weather. September clears again into crisp, stable conditions, and by mid-October the cold returns sharply as the closing approaches. Whatever month you choose, carry warm layers and a genuinely waterproof jacket — at this altitude the weather can turn from sunshine to sleet within an hour, in any season, so keep a day or two of flexibility in your plans.
To summarise: Kedarnath opens in late April or early May, on a date announced on Maha Shivratri, and closes around Bhai Dooj in late October or early November; the exact dates shift each year with the Hindu calendar; the most comfortable weather is usually September to mid-October; and Char Dham registration is mandatory. Plan your rough window early, book as soon as the season’s dates are declared, and pack for cold and rain whatever the month you choose.
The safest way to plan around the opening and closing dates — and the frequent weather delays — is a package that handles registration, stays near the trailhead, pony or helicopter arrangements and a coordinator on call. See our Kedarnath Yatra package (ex Delhi), or combine it with Badrinath as a Do Dham. Tell us your preferred dates and we’ll confirm the best window and build a costed itinerary as soon as the season’s dates are set.